The immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has declared that he would not support any northern presidential candidate in 2027.
Ortom, however, accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of fuelling the ethnic cleansing in Benue State by armed herders when he preferred the open grazing routes of the 50s over ranching of cattle despite the population explosion.
Ortom, who made his views known during a live programme on Agate Radio and Television in Makurdi, lamented that the non-implementation of the 2017 Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state by the present administration had given room for the influx of cattle into the state.
He said, “I must commend President Bola Tinubu for allowing the will of the people which is ranching to prevail against the wish of the previous administration which was gradually turning Nigeria into the Democratic Republic of Cows by insisting on cattle route and open grazing.”
On the issue of the 2027 general election, Ortom said, “I am not contesting for any political position, but I will support any credible candidate from my party that comes out to contest. To be sincere, the president has taken the bull by the horns by removing the fuel subsidy and ensuring that the rule of law and the will of the people prevail, because the rule of law anchors democracy.”
On the recent opposition coalition joined by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially those from Benue, Ortom said, as the leader of the party in the state he had directed that whoever left the party for another should be expelled from the party, saying they can‘t serve two masters.
“For me I don‘t believe in the ongoing political coalition but believe in partnership if the need arises. In 2027, I believe in a Southern presidency. When it goes to the North for eight years, it should also come to the southerners, that is the spirit of brotherhood. The North has its turn, which former president Buhari ruled for eight years, now it is the turn of the South till 2031,” he added.
He warned those addressing the sustained attack on the farming communities across the state, as farmers/herders crises, to desist, saying what is happening in Benue was land grabbing and occupation of ancestral homes of the citizenry.
Chief Ortom decried the hatred meted out on the state by Buhari. He alleged that due to his stand on anti-open grazing, the Buhari administration denied him access to the N35 billion meant for infrastructure development for the state and the N40 billion interest-free loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) meant to clear salary arrears.
While emphasising that he is ready whenever he is called to make his input to the development of the state, Ortom said, „ We need to swallow our pride, come together irrespective of political affiliations and work as a team to surmount the security challenges bedevilling the state.”
He said if the federal government is allowing the herdsmen to bear arms, the same thing should apply to the farmers so that everyone will be on the same page, rather than allowing herders to bear arms and be killing farmers in their sleep, saying this is not fair.
